Loading, please wait...
Details
LOT 0445
Egyptian Diorite Stone Scarab
SAITE PERIOD, 664-525 B.C.
7/8 in. (8.22 grams, 21 mm).
Carved in the round with detailed carapace and legs; not pierced.
Provenance
Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s.
Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent.
Private collection, since the late 1990s.
This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Literature
Cf. Ben-Tor, D., The Scarab: A Reflection of Ancient Egypt, Tel Aviv, 1993, p. 77, nos. 13-15, for comparable diorite scarabs.
Footnotes
The scarab amulet was arguably the most ubiquitous symbol in ancient Egypt, representing rebirth, transformation, and protection. Modelled after the scarab beetle, which was associated with the sun god Khepri, believed to roll the sun across the sky, the amulet illustrated the cycle of life and regeneration. Scarabs were commonly placed with the deceased as funerary amulets to ensure safe passage into the afterlife. They also served as seals and personal charms, often inscribed with prayers, names, or protective formulas. Widely used from the early Middle Kingdom (c. 2050 BCE) onwards, scarab amulets reflect spiritual beliefs and everyday practices in ancient Egyptian life.
CONDITIONVETTING:
TimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
TimeLine is a leading auction house specialising in antiquities, ancient art, collectables, natural history, coins, medals, and books. Our auctions offer museums, collectors, historians, and enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire unique and historically significant pieces.
RELATED LOTS
-
Egyptian Blue Glazed Hieroglyphic Shabti for Ta-Amun
Saite Period, 26th Dynasty, 664-525 B.C. or laterEstimate: £1,200 - 1,700 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £600
Slender columnar shabti featuring a dorsal pillar, with ten rows of hieroglyphic text on the lower body beginning with the dedication 'The illuminated one, the Osiris priest Ta-Amun born of Ta-seh-nebty' ( sḥḏ wsỉr ḥm nṯr TꜢ-I͗mn ms (n) TꜢ-sḥ-nbty); the features of the small face are finely modelled, including a long, plaited false beard and a heavy lappet wig; the arms are crossed, with hands holding a pick and a hoe, along with a cord for a seed bag. 137 grams, 17.8 cm
Acquired on the German art market, 1989-1995. with The Museum Gallery, 19 Bury Place, London, WC1, UK, 1998-2003. Property of a London based academic, 2003-present. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
.jpg)
Egyptian Steatite Scarab
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
With detailed carapace and mouth, hieroglyphs to the underside depicting a pharaoh-headed sphinx, with hes-vase in front and the crowns of Lower and Upper Egypt behind. 0.80 grams, 12 mm
Ex R. Liechti (1934-2010) Geneva, Switzerland, formed between 1950-1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
Egyptian Cut-Glass Horus Amulet
1st millennium B.C.Estimate: £300 - 400 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £150
Modelled in the round, a falcon perched on a rectangular base, with a pierced lug between the shoulders. 3.3 grams, 21 mm
UK private collection before 2000. Acquired on the UK art market. Private collection, London. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
Falcon amulets in ancient Egypt symbolised protection, kingship, and divine power. Often associated with the god Horus, the falcon represented the sky, the sun, and the living pharaoh. These amulets were typically placed with the deceased to ensure protection in the afterlife and to invoke the strength and watchfulness of Horus. Worn in life or death, falcon amulets reflected royal authority and divine guardianship.
